FCL or LCL — how to choose
| FCL (full container) | LCL (consolidated) | |
|---|---|---|
| Charged on | Per container, per sailing | Per cubic metre or per 1,000 kg, whichever is greater |
| Best when | Cargo fills roughly 15 m³ or more, or must not be mixed | Smaller shipments, one to five pallets, testing a new product |
| Transit | Direct or one transshipment, faster | Adds 3–7 days for consolidation and de-consolidation |
| Risk | Your cargo alone in the box | Shares a container, so packing must be solid |
| Equipment we book | 20' GP, 40' GP, 40' HC, 40' reefer, open top, flat rack | Palletised or loose cartons, wrapped and labelled |
The crossover point moves with the market: sometimes two LCL shipments of 8 m³ each are cheaper than one FCL, sometimes a 40' HC is cheaper than a 20' GP because the trade is unbalanced. We price both and tell you which is more economical that week, rather than steering you toward one.
Ports and services on this lane
Loading ports: Shekou, Yantian, Nansha, Hong Kong, Xiamen, Ningbo, Shanghai, Qingdao, Tianjin.
Indian discharge ports: Nhava Sheva (JNPT), Mundra, Hazira, Chennai, Kattupalli, Krishnapatnam, Tuticorin, Cochin, Kolkata, Visakhapatnam, Hyderabad (ICD), Delhi (ICD Tughlakabad).
We are an NVOCC, so you get our own bill of lading — one point of contact and one document set for the whole chain, instead of chasing a co-loader when the customer's bank asks for an amendment.
Transit times to plan around
- South China → Nhava Sheva / Mundra: direct services roughly 12–18 days; with transshipment 18–25 days.
- East China → Nhava Sheva: roughly 18–24 days.
- South China → Chennai / Tuticorin: roughly 14–22 days via Colombo or direct, depending on the string.
- Kolkata and inland ICDs: add 4–8 days for rail or road from the gateway port.
Schedule reliability on the India trade varies a lot by carrier and by season. We quote the specific vessel and voyage, and we tell you when a cheap rate means a slow transshipment.
What goes into the price
Ocean freight is only one line of a China–India quotation. The invoice normally also contains:
- Origin charges — trucking, export customs declaration, terminal handling at the Chinese port, documentation, and any special equipment or overweight surcharge.
- Ocean freight and surcharges — the base rate plus bunker or peak-season surcharges as they apply.
- Destination charges in India — terminal handling, THC, container cleaning, documentation, and the D/O or release fee, which are payable by the consignee under most terms.
- Free time — how many days of container use are included before detention (outside the port) or demurrage (inside the port) starts. On the India trade this is where surprises come from, so we state the free days in the quotation.
Always compare quotations on the same Incoterm and the same scope. A cheaper ocean rate with destination charges excluded and five free days is often more expensive than a higher rate with ten.
How to reduce the landed cost
- Plan the stowage to use the container volume efficiently; space left unused inside a container is charged at the full rate.
- Compare 40' HC against two 20' boxes — the 40' HC option is often cheaper per cubic metre.
- Arrange collection after the free time is confirmed, so that storage charges do not begin before the vessel sails.
- Book earlier around the pre-Diwali and Chinese New Year peaks; space is tighter and rates move weekly.